Films about Schizophrenia

I made this list probably about 1-2 years ago. Im making it again for people who are new.

Here are films about schizophrenia or having to do with schizophrenia. In order from the oldest movie to the newest one. Most of them are in my personal library too. Ive made the links clickable. They should all take you to the International Movie Database which tells you everything about the movie that youll ever want to really know and even each movie has its own message board at the bottom of the site where people can discuss the film.

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David And Lisa (1962)
I Never Promised You A Rose Garden (1977) (Not sure about this film. Later was said the woman had actually dissociation mostly)
Benny & Joon (1993)
Clean Shaven (1993) (The most accurate depiction of Schizophrenia that I have ever seen of Schizophrenia and will probably ever see. I have seen A LOT of films on mental illness. This movie has no comedy. Its not made by hollywood driven film. Its all drama.)
Angel Baby (1995)
Jupiters Wife (1995) (Actually a documentary on a homeless woman with schizophrenia)
Girl Interrupted (1999)
Julien Donkey-Boy (1999)
A Beautiful Mind (2001)
Quitting (2001)
Spider (2002)
CrazyLove (2005)
Keane (2004)
Canvas (2006)
Cutting For Stone (2008)
The Soloist (2009)
Call Me Crazy: A Five Film (2013)
People Call Me Crazy (2014) (Documentary)

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There are so many movies I missed that are REALLY good about mental illness BUT I only put the ones that specifically had to do with schizophrenia or that included clear cut storylines about schizophrenia. Theres probably some I missed and I havent seen everything especially older films. A few of these are love films so I was hesitant about that but its ok. I also only included films that ACTUALLY depicted schizophrenia in respectable, proper, and real-to-life way. Which means I didnt include films that were comedies or depicted schizophrenia with the wrong diagnoses (such as Dissociative Identity Disorder aka Multiple Personality Disorder). I also didnt include films that profited on schizophrenia like extreme horror films. I am really passionate about film - in general - and I truly believe mental illnesses like Schizophrenia should be depicted like reality so people dont feel so alone or stigmatized about it.

Enjoy!

I remember seeing Shutter Island. God that film gave me chills. I hated that one. It really ****ed with my head at the time.

yea thats a really good film. i thought about including that and i can always edit the post but i remember seeing that movie and it truly wasnt about schizophrenia. it was mainly a hollywood mystery thriller that capitalized on the symptoms of Sz...yet didnt show the realities of it.

its a realllly good film by far tho. i liked it.

theres another documentary called Lost Angels. which is available on netflix. it depicts different ranges of mental illness amongst people who live on skid row in los angeles. it also has drug abuse elements in it too. i wasnt sure about posting that one because of the criteria i had set above.

I watched this one not too long ago: Of Two Minds (2012)

Also, more of a thriller but interesting nonetheless: Take Shelter (2011)

I keep meaning to get around to Clean, Shaven. Sounds great.

Oh yeahhh I forgot about Of Two Minds. Thats actually a really good one.

Take Shelter wasnt truly about schizophrenia though. it was ambiguous. the man had these apocalyptic dreams and such but it turned out it was real. i dont want to spoil the movie for anybody so im not gonna go into detail.

Who was schizophrenic in Girl, Interrupted? I love that film, did I miss something? :/

it was polly clark. the burn victim.

maybe that movie wasnt too good of a choice

Thank you for this thread, newtus!

Sent from my A0001

No no, good choice. I just wasn't sure who had it!

"Strange voices" 1987, it was pretty interesting.

oh yea forgot about that!!! thats a reallyyy good one.

Strange Voices (1987)

How about One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (1975) - the native American in that is a schizophrenic & it portrays a mental institution in that era.

I tried to watch them but it wouldn't let me maybe because im in the uk. Thanks for the list though I'll try and look for them elsewhere

It captured how terrifying my psychosis was, and how thick the cloud of delusion was. That's why it disturbed me so. To a delusional schizophrenic, living in fear, the cause to why everything is happening is a mystery and your mind races to understand reality. That horror/thriller mystery is how I lived for a year. It was pretty accurate portrayal for me.

thats good that you found it relatable!

Does anyone know where to watch the full 2014 documentary? I like them way more than movies portraying schizophrenia.

what documentary?

People Call Me Crazy (2014) (Documentary)

Thank you! I googled it but couldn't find it.

Thanks newtus I just watched it and it was good.

I forgot to add Manic (2001)

Shot sort of documentary-ish but is a drama movie.
Very underrated!!!

manic was good. i liked the actors in it (don cheadle, joseph gordon levitt) i liked the music too idk why

i liked the music too!
Lyle was my favorite character.